Hi Jason, our learning plans are a good tool to organize typically large topics into smaller pieces (for example, Data Management is a big topic. The Fundamentals of Data Management learning plan helps uncover all the various subtopics that fall under data management.) There's no requirement to complete all the resources in any learning plan. If you explore the details of what's covered in a paid instructor-led course, you could then search for e-Learning resources that teach those topics.
Instructor-led courses are an efficient way to learn, but we understand not everyone has budget for those. Many organizations using ArcGIS do have a training budget. Esri partners, Esri Nonprofit Program members, and Education Institute Agreement members get a discount on instructor-led training.
